The Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK with interests ranging from arts and humanities to particle physics. There are seven Research Councils, whose activities are outlined below, and these all work together through Research Councils UK (RCUK). 

RCUK has information about international funding opportunities (ranging from travel grants to long-term collaborative grants) from the Research Councils, and you can access this here.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
AHRC was established on 1 April 2005 and it supports research into a wide variety of subject areas, such as history, modern languages, English literature and the creative and performing arts. As well as funding research and postgraduate study it provides financial support to museums, galleries and collections that are attached to higher education institutions.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
BBSRC is the UK's principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. BBSRC funds research in: plants, microbes, animals (including humans) and the tools and technology underpinning biological research. It does not fund research focused on specific human diseases and disease processes or abnormal conditions, which fall within the remit of the Medical Research Council.

Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC is the leading agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences.  Subjects covered range from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering.
EPSRC operates to meet the needs of industry and society through working in partnership with universities to invest in people and scientific discovery and innovation.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The role of ESRC is to promote and support high quality basic, strategic and applied research and training in the social sciences. As well as this, ESRC aims to advance knowledge, provide trained social scientists, provide advice on the social sciences, disseminate knowledge, and promote public understanding of the social sciences.

Medical Research Council (MRC)
MRC promotes research into all areas of medical and related science with the aims of improving the health and quality of life. The MRC is independent in its choice of which research to support. It does, however, work in close partnership with Health Departments, other Research Councils, industry and others to identify and respond to current and future health needs.

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) provides independent research and training in the environmental sciences. Its mission is to gather and apply knowledge, improve understanding and predict the behaviour of the natural environment and its resources.

Science and Technology Facilities Council
On 1 April 2007 the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Council (PPARRC) merged to form the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The Council operates world-class, large scale research facilities and provides strategic advice to the UK government on their development. It also manages international research projects in support of a broad cross-section of the UK research community. The Council also directs, coordinates and funds a wide range of research in many areas including, among others; Astronomy, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, and Space Science.

Under the dual-support system, funds to support institutions and research infrastructure come from the Higher Education Funding councils. Their aim is to promote high quality education and research, and perform a key role in ensuring accountability and the promotion of good practice. In general, the Higher Education Funding Councils provide funding for the infrastructures of institutions, rather than to individuals or for specific research projects. As education is devolved in the UK there are separate funding councils for each country and these are: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC), The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), and The Department for Employment & Learning Northern Ireland  

Learned societies or academies are organisations established to promote specific subjects. Membership can be open to anyone with an interest or an honour by election by other members. These organisations usually promote and ensure the standard of research with their subject through academic publications and conferences, and some act as professional bodies by offering accreditation via membership.

The Royal Society
The national academy of science of the UK and the Commonwealth

The British Academy
The British Academy champions and supports the humanities and social sciences

The Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering brings together the country’s most eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering

The Royal Society of Edinburgh
This is Scotland’s National Academy of Science & Letters

The Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences was established in 1998 with the express purpose of promoting the translation of advances in medical science into benefits for patients and the population at large.

Royal Geographical Society
The RGS is the learned society and professional body for geography.
 
The British Association for the Advancement of Science
The BA is a registered charity which exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering.

Edinburgh Geological Society
The Edinburgh Geological Society aims to stimulate public interest in geology and the advancement of geological knowledge.

Royal Astronomical Society
Is the UK's leading professional body for astronomy & astrophysics, geophysics, solar and solar-terrestrial physics, and planetary sciences.

British Society for the History of Science
Britain's largest learned society devoted to the history of science, technology and medicine.

Zoological Society of London
The ZSL is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. 

There are many charitable organisations in the UK which provide support for research, particularly in the field of medical research.

These are large organisations (NGOs, foundations and trusts) that offer private sources of funding. Some were originally set up with endowments, either from private benefactors or government grants, and invest any profits in the research they fund into supporting new future activities. Others are private companies that invest part of their commercial profits into supporting research activities either to develop their own products or forward other subject areas.

Association of Medical Research Charities
AMRC is a membership organisation of the leading UK charities that fund medical and health research.  It does not itself provide funding but it has a searchable database of member organisations and provides information on specific funding opportunities. It has over 100 member organisations, including Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, and the Parkinson’s UK.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It concentrates on a research and development programme that seeks to better understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them. The Foundation does not conduct research in-house, but works in partnership with a large variety of academic and other institutions to achieve its aims. The Foundation places great emphasis on disseminating the findings of its work and engaging with policy-makers and practitioners to develop better policies and practices.

The Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust makes awards for the support of research and education, placing emphasis on individuals and encompassing all subject areas. A number of different grants and awards are available, including visiting fellowships, early career development fellowships and research project grants.

The Wellcome Trust
The aim of the Wellcome Trust is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. A wide range of funding is available in the areas of biomedical science, technological transfer, medical humanities and public engagement.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
This was set up in 2000 to bring ‘innovations in health and learning to the global community’. As part of their work, the foundation supports international research which fits their global health priority areas.

National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
Aims to support talent, innovation and creativity in the UK in order to improve the UK’s capacity for innovation. It does this by investing in promising early-stage companies, shaping innovation policy, and sharing best practice.

If you work in the field of development you may also find the UKCDS website useful. This is a collaborative of UK funders with an interest in international development research and the website publishes funding opportunities in the development sciences.

Many professional bodies offer accreditation via membership. A professional association or society is an organisation created by a Royal Charter to support a specific profession. They support their members and can also ensure that professional standards are up held. Many professional bodies offer accreditation via membership that can be a requirement of being allowed to practice certain professions in the UK, for example doctors.

While these professional bodies all provide some type of support, they do not all necessarily provide funding.

The Bar Council
The Bar Council is the professional body for barristers in England and Wales. It provides representation and services for the Bar, and guidance on issues of professional practice.

The Biochemical Society
Is a learned society in the in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular & molecular biosciences. It has an international membership of over 7000.

British Dental Association
Is the professional association and trade union for dentists in the UK.

British Medical Association
Is the doctors’ professional organisation established to look after the professional and personal needs of their members. The BMA represents doctors in all branches of medicine all over the UK.

British Psychological Society
Is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK.

The General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers doctors to practice medicine in the UK. Our purpose is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

Society of Biology
The Society of Biology is the professional body for UK biologists.

Institute of Chemical Engineers
Is an international professional membership organization for people who have an interest in and relevant experience in chemical engineering.

Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific membership organisation devoted to increasing the understanding and application of physics.

Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community.

The Law Society
The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales.

The Law Society of Scotland
The Law Society of Scotland is the governing body for Scottish solicitors.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
The RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK.

Royal College of General Practitioners
It is a registered charity that aims to maintain the highest standards of general medical practice in education, training and research in the UK.

Royal Society of Chemistry
The RSC is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences.